Jesse James (Wisconsin politician)
Jesse James | |
|---|---|
| File:Rep. Jesse James 2021.jpg James in 2021 | |
| Member-elect of the Wisconsin Senate from the 23rd district | |
| Assuming office January 2, 2023 | |
| Succeeding | Kathy Bernier |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 68th district | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kathy Bernier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 16, 1972 Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Vicki |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Altoona, Wisconsin |
| Education | Chippewa Valley Technical College |
| Profession | Police officer |
| Website | legis |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Reserve |
| Unit | 397th U.S. Engineer Btn. |
Jesse L. James (born April 16, 1972) is an American law enforcement professional and Republican politician. He represents the 68th Assembly district in the Wisconsin State Assembly and is member-elect of the Wisconsin Senate for the 23rd Senate district, taking office January 2, 2023.[1] Before being elected to the Assembly, James was the police and fire chief of Altoona, Wisconsin.[2]
Biography
Jesse James is a graduate of Chippewa Valley Technical College and served in the U.S. Army for six years.[3] He lives in Altoona, Wisconsin, with his wife Vicki, with whom he has four children.[4] He currently works as a police officer in the Village of Cadott, and is the only active-duty law enforcement officer serving in the Wisconsin Legislature.[5] James and his wife own a small business.[6]
As of the 2021–2022 session, James is the Republican Caucus Secretary[7] and Chair of the Substance Abuse and Prevention Committee. He sits on the following Wisconsin Assembly committees: Children and Families, Corrections, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Family Law (of which he is the vice-chair), Mental Health, Small Business Development, and Veteran and Military Affairs.[1]
James is a graduate of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD) program. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse (SCAODA).[8]
He announced on January 21, 2022, that he was running for office[9] for Wisconsin's 23rd Senate District. On August 9th, 2022, James won the Republican primary with 50% of the vote and faced the general election unopposed.[10]
Legislation
James has been the lead author on several bills that have been signed into Wisconsin law. Some of these include 2021 Assembly Bill 91 (relating to throwing or expelling a bodily substance at a public safety worker or prosecutor), Assembly Bill 92 (expanding psychiatric bed capacity in the Chippewa Valley), Assembly Bill 94 (allowing a pupil enrolled in a home-based private educational program to serve as an election inspector), Assembly Bill 155 (relating to inspections of recreational and educational camps), Assembly Bill 482 (grants to schools to provide critical incident mapping data to law enforcement agencies), and 2021 Wisconsin Act 197 (regarding the regulation of certain electric fences).[1]
Rep. James was the lead author of a bipartisan bill legalizing fentanyl testing strips in Wisconsin, which was signed into law on March 16, 2022.[11]
On March 17, 2022, Governor Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 182 into law, a James-authored bill that allows a parent to change the last name of a child when the other parent has been convicted of certain heinous crimes such as homicide or certain sexual offenses.[11] The bill, nicknamed "the 4 Bill" by James, was inspired by the wife and children of a school superintendent in James' district who was convicted of sexual crimes against a minor.[12]
Rep. James also authored a bill making September 11, 2001, a formal observance day in Wisconsin schools (2021 Wisconsin Act 213).[13]
References
- ^ a b c "Representative Jesse L. James". Wisconsin Legislature. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Altoona Police Chief Jesse James gives final farewells | City of Altoona News". www.ci.altoona.wi.us.
- ^ "About Jesse". State Representative Jesse James. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ Stetzer, Samantha (April 19, 2018). "Police Chief Announces Bid". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ James, Jesse (March 18, 2022). "Rep. James Spring Newsletter" (PDF).
- ^ Representative Jesse James - A Small Business Special: Cabin Coffee with Rep. Jesse James | Facebook, retrieved May 13, 2022
- ^ "Wisconsin State Assembly". legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Representative Jesse James completes regional leadership institute" (PDF). Council of State Governments (Press release). October 5, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022 – via State Representative Jesse James.
- ^ Bosk, Felicity (January 21, 2022). "Altoona's Jesse James announces bid for State Senate". www.wqow.com. WQOW. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Kaska, Jimmie. "Candidates selected in primaries for state Legislature in western Wisconsin". https://www.weau.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ a b "A Message from Jesse: 4 Bills SIGNED INTO LAW!". legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Cotton, Max. "Gov. Evers signs bill inspired by Ashley Peggs". weau.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 2021 Wisconsin Act 213". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2022.